RFAR is Here!

Hello all,

At the change of the year, somehow I became inspired. My two sons and favorite nephew love motorcycles the associated activity. For me, it is just one of those things in my blood. It truly is flying on the ground. For years, I have had a fascination with quality and finesse. My ride of choice is the BMW. I had recently restored a garage find that was not running. I cleaned it up and repainted it and did a partial, mostly cosmetic restoration.. it came out beautiful. My youngest son took up an interest and bought a Buell Blast then announced that he wanted to get with me and do a tour. He said take the R-50 that I named 'Hanz". My response was I cannot do that to old Hanz. He is retired and deserves to look good. So, I was on a search. While visiting with son, the younger in Denver we went looking for parts for the Hanz and I ended up buying an salvage bike. It was dead, faded, flat tired, but it had potential.. no it was no BMW, but has that "special" feel. I could not resist. The younger said " I'll have it going in a week"
He did.. Well goes to find out this is sort of a cult bike. It is a Yamaha. (good engineering)
It is sort of a works experiment.. it turned out to be a model that was only produced for 82 and 83. The market killed the model. This is a very tweeky bike. A "V" twin, water cooled, 550cc, mono shock, shaft drive, factory fairing and goes like a bat out of hell. It is called a Vision, XZ550.
It is a technical maze of electronics and carburation, and therefore very tweeky. I like the bike and I rode it a couple of thousand miles last fall, but I still lusted for a simpler by design machine.
I wanted a Beemer. In 1976 I bought a new R90S, the bike of the year in the Cycle World. I rode it many a mile and toured the west coast from San Francisco to Alaska on it. At the time I was living in Seattle hated the rat race. I took up employment in at Ketchikan, Alaska in 1979.
Ketchikan is on an island, so I sold the R90, and have been trying to forget it for over 30 years.
Every time I see the classic models, I remember the great attributes of these well designed machines.

So, one day, I asked my Honey.. can I buy another rare motorcycle?? She looked at me and commented.. you already have two rare bikes, another??? I said, yes... to ride.
I can't ride Hanz it is an antique, only sunny days and short island rides, the "AKVISION" is too tweeky and likes to stay near a garage. I got the nod.
I found a 1977 R75/7 one of the last 600 BMW 750's to be imported to the USA. BMW never produced a 750 again. It is considered the height of refinement for the 750 engine. It comes with the new series frame and old simple electronics. These bikes have been known to log 100's of thousands of miles and are eminently re-buildable. A very bullet proof survivor, collectible bike.

I bought this bike in Denver and did a few little checks and tune up items and I rode it to Bellingham and brought it home to Ketchikan. I put it in the basement and started a total check out. That means engine out of the frame, front forks rebuild, transmission rebuild,full check out of electronics and mechanicals and replace or rebuild as necessary. So, at the present it is in pieces.

Now, that you have the back round, in January while sitting around with son #1 and favorite nephew and reviewing the great skiing in the middle of Canada, my mind wondered to my bike in pieces... I thought gosh, am 64 and want to do one great ride. My listeners perked right up.
How about from Alaska to South America... now that is an adventure. However as I thought about it ... there is no road from the Panama to Columbia.. there is Darian's gap. A swamp, snakes, spiders, and big bad things in the night. And what about the Drug Lords and Jungle Rebels. I changed my mind. So, I thought maybe Alaska to the Panama. Ok...

Now, why am I doing this??? Is there some high purpose??? Maybe it would help if I created one. So, I thought, How can I do good and do this ride? I was looking for a good purpose or a need to fill.
Well, I have been a Rotarian for over 25 years. Rotary has a Foundation. I have supported the Foundation by work at the Club, District and International level. So why not try to do something that will support and help the Rotary Foundation and all of its good works. So, reach out to Rotarian's and make them aware of the Foundations good works. It was a natural, ride and educate, fellowship and share.. that is one of the baselines of Rotary.

1. The development of acquaintance as and opportunity for service.
2. Opportunity to serve
3. Application of the ideal of service
4. Advancing International understanding and good will united in service.

The Rotary Foundation does so many good things in the world, I want to jump on a motorcycle and visit clubs and districts and beat the drum of knowledge and raise awareness amongst Rotarian's in Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Panama.

1. The eradication of Polio via Polio Plus
2. Peace and Conflict Resolution Programs via Peace Fellowships
3. Ambassadorial Education Programs, Ambassadorial Scholarship Programs
4. Country to Country Group Study Exchanges
5. Water, Hunger, Literacy Grants and Help Programs

These are the main programs that the Foundation supports with funds and people.

So, RFAR is born.. Rotary Foundation Awareness Ride.